The growing areas MEGATHREAD!

[luvsorchids]

You may have noticed my two wooden masks from Thailand. They keep evil spirits away!

So...do they keep the bugs out ?

Susan

 

[SlipperKing]

So...do they keep the bugs out ?

Susan

No! Most bugs masquerade as good fairies! Not the evil spirits that they are!

 

[cnycharles]

No! Most bugs masquerade as good fairies! Not the evil spirits that they are!

yeah, those mealies try to act cute and cuddly, when they're really plant-eating bulldozers

nice pictures and setup!

 

[Candace]

Nice set-up Rick. I'm going to be having to make some decisions soon in regards to waterline spacing and electrical for the new g.h. So, it's nice to see what others have done. I've been putting it off since I'm going to have to make other bench location plans etc. before deciding on the water and electrical. And as always, I'm sure once it's in, I'll wish I'd have done something different.

Looks like you have some space on the left-hand side bench. Better get that taken care of!

 

[JeanLux]

Real cool thing this wet wall Rick!!!! some questions: What does it consist of? Is enough air circulation through it provided just by the fact you have no glas/plastic frame outside? Do you put such sort of cover outside in winter?

If I remember right, I saw one wet wall in one of the Vacherot ghs in Boissy St Leger years ago. They had a monster fan behind it guaranteeing air circulation! Jean

 

[NYEric]

I guess it's time to post my growing area. There are a few unique ideas that others might find useful. First the end wall which faces south has a 10 ft by 4 ft wet wall which I just replace pads this summer. You can also see the benches on the left and right side walls are stacked. I have vinyl sheeting hung under each bench to prevent water soaking the plants under each bench.
Here is the electical component that controls the exhaust fans and the wet wall itself. Three thermostats, the center one is for the wet wall. Set at the highest temp so it's the last to come on and the first to go off. It needs to go off early enough so it drys out before the exhaust fans shut down. Algae builds up it left wet all the time.
Electric box for all needs. Lights,fans, heaters, wet wall and outlets. To the right on the wall is also city water supply when needed. The 55gal tank you see buried 3/4 of the way is my main water supply. I add my fertilzer to it. There is a sump pump in the bottom and I plug it in when mixing fert and watering. The 55gal is feed by a larger tank outside the greenhouse.
Here is the outside tank, 450gal livestock tank under my rain gutter. Double layer of shadecloth on top to keep mosqutos out! As you can see it is 3ft off the ground on a table I built for it. The water is gravity feed into the 55gal tank, slow but it works.
Sump pump tank for the wet wall. The vent on the wall is used in the winter. There are two,one on each side. I cover over the wet wall in winter to prevent air flow from coming in. The small vents are uncovered from the outside to allow air to come in when the exhaust fans come on ( day time/ winter)

ADDICTED!

 

[SlipperKing]

ADDICTED!

You got the one word summary of my very long paragraph!

 

[SlipperKing]

Real cool thing this wet wall Rick!!!! some questions: What does it consist of? Is enough air circulation through it provided just by the fact you have no glas/plastic frame outside? Do you put such sort of cover outside in winter?

If I remember right, I saw one wet wall in one of the Vacherot ghs in Boissy St Leger years ago. They had a monster fan behind it guaranteeing air circulation! Jean

Jean,
If you're up close and look at the "wall" it looks like corrigated cardboard across it's edge. Here is a closer look

If you're up close and look down and through it, you can see the outside ground. What happen is, water is carried across the top of it for it's full lengh. It's made of very stuff cardboard and the water soaks into it and runs down. Air is pulled through by my two exhaust fans on the opposite wall. As the air passes through, it causes the water to evaporate. The physical properties of water requires energy (heat) to go from liquid to vapor. So, water takes "heat" out of the air to go from liquid on the cardboard to vapor in the air. End result: cooling of the greenhouse. Clear as mudd, right?
The picture of the wall where it is Black in color that is the outside of the wall. That is the side I cover with 4mil plastic in the winter and turn the wall off to keep my heaters from being over worked. In my winter months it can be 40 F at night and get up in the 80's during the day. My exhuast fans will come on to cool. With the wet wall closed off I need away of letting fresh air in. That is where those small vents on the back sidewalls come into play. Normally closed they open up when the fans come on from the vaccum pressure created by the fans. More mud again?:rollhappy:

 

[biothanasis]

Rick your g.a. is great!!!

 

[JeanLux]

thanks Rick!!!! cool cooling and humidification?? system!!! Jean

 

[Clark]

Looking a Rick's set-up is like looking at the crystal ball into my future. Nice G.H. Rick!!!
Q: Permit??? I notice the electric in many GH is exposed. I mean the wire is not in conduit. Does GH have different regs. or yours was preexisting when you bought house? Or...

 

[NYEric]

"Permits!?! We don't need no stinking permits!!"
:rollhappy:

 

[McPaph]

Q: Permit??? I notice the electric in many GH is exposed. I mean the wire is not in conduit. Does GH have different regs. or yours was preexisting when you bought house?

a GH would be considered a wet location same as outside. Yes it would need to be in conduit and GFI's. As eric said

Permits!?! We don't need no stinking permits!!"

as a electrician for 23 years, I have worse looking stuff in my garage. You can always find the worst electrical work at a electricians house
Mick

 

[Clark]

You mean my mechanics car doesn't run???

 

[cnycharles]

maybe, but he probably has someone else work on it for him
("I do that at work, I'm not doing it at home!")

 

[Candace]

Clark, I had all my electrical run in conduit with a GFI as I don't want the risks of power failure adding up. One bad move and poof, the whole collection is fried. I plan on having the same electrician out to do the wiring on #2. And yes, permits are generally required.

 

[NYEric]

She's no fun! :evil:

 

[SlipperKing]

"Permits!?! We don't need no stinking permits!!"
:rollhappy:

I'm with Eric!
All my electric was installed by myself but with the guidence of a electrican friend same when I ran the natural gas lines. Master plumber friend and I ran them. Permits are for raising your taxes!

 

[Candace]

Permits are for raising your taxes!

I hear you:> Although technically they're for making sure work is done correctly so no one loses a body part or dies horrendously. Though you are supposed to get permits and this can affect resale etc. later, many people just skip it. Some of the inspectors can be nazis.

 

[Berrak]

Self constructed bench for my greenhouse in garage

I build this last week from aluminium profiles. I placed four 6mm glass plates in the profiles. It is 100 cm high, 59,5 cm wide and 150 cm long.
The greenhose opening is 60 cm soo it will slip in.

I will have double 2 x 58 W floresc. tubes above each shelf.